Carol Dougherty of Weehawken, who has high blood pressure, has been a familiar face around the West New York headquarters of the North Hudson Community Action Corporation for the last eight years, where she has gone for her treatment.
“I have high blood pressure, and these people have been so efficient in helping me get the right medicine and kept me on the right diet,” said Dougherty, 58. “They’ve been wonderful.”
NHCAC has helped Dougherty, and many other patients like her, through affordable costs and convenient payment options. All without sacrificing quality medical care and prescriptions.
The NHCAC, which runs its operation through federal, state and local funding, offers care to about 160,000 patients a year at their various health centers located in Hoboken, North Bergen, Jersey City, Union City, West New York and Passaic.
Patients and supporters of the non-profit NHCAC gave testimony during a National Health Center Week press conference this past Thursday urging the importance of utilizing health care facilities, especially for lower-income minorities.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of America’s Health Center program. Over the last five years, the health center program has nearly doubled in size, with the addition of 1,200 new health care delivery sites and expansions nationwide, which can serve about 16 million people a year.
The centers provide testing and help on a sliding price scale for low-income communities, and are subsidized by federal and/or state funds.
“Community health centers are essential for meeting our national health care needs,” said Ann T. Dudsak, acting president and CEO. “The North Hudson Community Action Corporation [headquartered in West New York] offers our patients the best medical care regardless of income, and nobody is ever turned away.”
Celebrating healthcare Honored guests and speakers for this past Thursday’s event were to include Rep. Robert Menendez, Senator Bernard Kenny and Katherine Grant-Davis, executive director for the New Jersey Primary Care Association. Also attending were long time patients of the NHCAC, who shared stories about their positive experiences with the health center.
“If I can’t pay right away, they have waited for me to make payments. They don’t haunt you with phone calls until you make payment,” said Dougherty, who lost her job and medical benefits after 9/11. “I have no insurance, and [you still] work together with these people. They don’t just give you pills and send you on your way.”
Adela Santiago of Jersey City and her entire family have also taken advantage of the services offered by the NHCAC’s Jersey City site at 324 Palisade Ave. for the last two years.
“I want to share with everyone how convenient this place is for me, and the difference this place makes for the people in my neighborhood,” said Santiago, 48.
Santiago has been able to receive proper treatment for diabetes at NHCAC, and take her two sons for regular visits to pediatricians all in one visit.
“One of my sons is asthmatic, and my husband has also received many different treatments from them,” said Santiago. “The doctors are efficient, and they also have laboratory services [and] dental services; it’s a nice place with a lot of services.”
Before NHCAC, Santiago, like many others was going to different doctors all over the city, which was financially hard on her family, including traveling expenses.
“That’s is why this place is so convenient for me,” she said. “To get health care, you just walk out of the house.”
Serving communities in need The purpose of National Health Center Week is to raise awareness about the vital role that “Federally Qualified Health Centers” play in quality health care, especially in poor urban districts such as in Hudson County. If not for these community centers, many would go without medical care.
“There are all kinds of people in this area, and when you don’t have the resources, you need to be able to walk to a place where you can get treatment,” said Santiago. “I think the health care is a necessity and a human right; it’s so important.”
“Everything is available to you, and they help you with [state-funded] Charity Care if you need it,” said Dougherty. “I don’t know where the people would go, I don’t know where I would go if [these community centers] did not exist. They’ve been good too me.”
This year’s theme for National Health Center Week 2005 is “A Model for Today – A Solution for Tomorrow,” and is being supported through contributions by the Roche Organization.
The NHCAC is also celebrating 40 years of serving New Jersey communities with high standards in health care for all individuals.
Their main headquarters is located at 5301 Broadway, West New York, with satellite facilities located in Jersey City, Union City, Hoboken, North Bergen, and Passaic. NHCAC has been serving the Hudson County area for over 37 years.